Leicester City fans come top of the league when it comes to eco-friendly habits

The Premier League table has been re-shuffled based on new research into how eco-friendly fans are – with Leicester City supporters coming out on top.

The survey asked 100 fans from each top-tier club a series of questions about their recycling habits, how they reduce energy waste, and how they travel to matches.

And fans of The Foxes – who have only once finished top of the Premier League table in their 2016 glory – soared ahead, followed by Fulham, Tottenham, and Brighton.

Rivals Liverpool and Manchester United grabbed the last two European qualification positions in the league.

However, it is mid-table mediocrity for some of the traditional “big six” – as Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea came ninth, tenth, and thirteenth, respectively.

Facing the drop in the bottom three is Leeds, who prop up the table, Wolves, and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest.

Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, which commissioned the league table, said: “This new eco league table shows how fans of the clubs in England’s top flight are performing based on their sustainable habits.

“Some have a lot to improve on, but many are going above and beyond to be green when watching the beautiful game.

“While there are a few fanbases who are staring down the barrel of relegation when it comes to their eco behaviour, there are easy changes they can make to steer clear of the drop zone.

“And something as simple as requesting a smart meter installation is just one way to help make a small difference to your carbon footprint, and make the country greener as a whole.”

Fans across the country are even taking steps to be more eco-friendly while cheering on their teams – with recycling packaging from matchday refreshments proving the most popular action.

Nearly a third (31%) ensure they don’t leave lights on in an empty room while watching from home, and 29% will only boil the kettle with the amount of water they need during their half-time tea break.

Half of the fans polled have a smart meter installed, and 89% of these credit it for helping them to reduce their energy consumption and, therefore, their carbon footprint.

When travelling to stadiums, public transport is the most popular way for supporters to get around, followed by carpooling with other fans.

And almost a quarter (23%) haven't purchased their team's new kit this season, after buying last year’s jersey.

In fact, 33% will hang on to old shirts for sentimental reasons or for their collection, while a further one in three will donate them to charity shops.

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Overall, 62% believe the beautiful game should do more to become more sustainable.

Fans would like to see only recyclable packaging used in stadiums (32%), solar panels on stadium roofs (31%), and stadiums powered on clean energy (30%).

A quarter (24%) even want more locally sourced products available on the concourse in grounds, and many like the idea of paperless ticketing (29%) to reduce waste.

Interestingly, 60% of fans also recognise their fellow supporters should be doing more to reduce their emissions when watching their team play.

And nearly two-thirds of these (63%) think more incentives from clubs and the leagues would help encourage more fans to follow suit.

Four in ten of the fans polled, via OnePoll, are willing to change their habits when enjoying their team in action – but are not sure what more they can do.

Victoria Bacon, from Smart Energy GB, added: “It is fascinating to learn about the habits of the fans of some of England’s biggest clubs, and it’s great to see that many are actively reducing their energy use with the help of a smart meter.

“And for many of these, they are utilising smart meters to reduce their usage.

“They’re installed at no extra cost by your energy supplier, and by getting one, you’ll be able to see your energy usage in near-real time, and in pounds and pence, via a handy in-home display, which will help you to reduce the amount you use.”

LEAGUE TABLE OF MOST ECO-FRIENDLY FOOTBALL FANS:

  1. Leicester
  2. Fulham
  3. Tottenham Hotspur
  4. Brighton
  5. Liverpool
  6. Manchester United
  7. Southampton
  8. West Ham
  9. Arsenal
  10. Manchester City
  11. Newcastle
  12. Aston Villa
  13. Chelsea
  14. Bournemouth
  15. Everton
  16. Crystal Palace
  17. Brentford
  18. Nottingham Forest
  19. Wolves
  20. Leeds

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